Respiratory mites in pinnipeds

Respiratory mites, inconspicuous millimeter-sized parasites, inhabit the respiratory tract of pinnipeds. Although they occur frequently in wild phocid and otariid seals as well as in walruses, these parasites have been scientifically neglected in the past decades.

Aim

Within the research project “Respiratory mites infesting pinnipeds as neglected parasites”, funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, these parasites will be examined in greater detail, both in the wild as well as in zoological gardens. Under the project leadership of Dr. David Ebmer, scientific collaborator at the Vienna Zoo, several central research tasks will be addressed. These include the development and establishment of non-invasive diagnostic methods to examine the animals without the need of anesthesia. Furthermore, the pathogenic potential of the mites as well as their biology and morphology will be studied. Within the framework of this FWF-project, doctoral student Mag. Philipp Sziderics will focus on these special parasitic mites in his thesis.

Relevance

In wild pinniped colonies, infestations with respiratory mites can be common. In zoological gardens, our parasitological workgroup led by Dr. Ebmer continuously detect new cases in pinnipeds. The results of this project are therefore of great importance for a better understanding of this neglected parasitosis, both in animals in the wild as well as in zoological gardens, and will also contribute to the development of innovative diagnostic methods.